Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-03-31

UNFoRTUNATE MUsKoGEK.-Our sister
town, Muskogee, has again been visit
ed by fire and this time with more dis
astrous results than ever. In fact,
the business houses, with one excep-
tion IF. b. Severs) have been entirely
swept away and on their principal
block remains but solitary dwelling.
The east side of the street was nearly
as unfortunate and but a few dwellings
and restaurant we're left standing.
The disaster came Sunday evening at
about 8: 80 and in three hours the ruin
was complete. The particulars as re-
lated to us by Henry Sixkiller. are as
follows: The fire originated in a
sleeping room in the upper story OF
J. A. Patterson q Cos general store TO
the north of the main business block
of the town. In an incredibly short
time this building was afre through
out and the flames, by the aid Of q
brisk north wind we're carried, across
the street to Turner 4 Byrne's mann
moth hardware establishment. From
the very first this result seemed immi-
nent though il was hardly expected
that the east side Of the street would
also be destroyed. From Turner &
Byrne's the fire made its way south
and in turn the stores of NJ. +. Will
Jams, drugs ]. +. Turner & Co., dry
foods and groceries s. Gavigan, drugs /;
and Moss, Wade & Co, dry goods and
groceries, were consumed, in most in
stances with their contents. sondhi-
mer, the hide man back OF Patterson 3
was also burned out. The old post
office building and a dwelling or two on
the west side Of The principal block
we're also burned, the only structure
escaping being house to the west of
Moss, Wade 4 Co.'S. On the east side
Of the street the corner building, Wash
Morgan's lunch stand where the old
Strochy house stood, escaped. The
unfortunates on this side we're Nc
Kellop's lunch stand, John F. Lyons
law Office, Colbert's shoe shop, Scrim-
sher's butcher shop, the Commercial
hotel, Bill Browns barber shop, Se-
vers' harness shop, DR. Callihan's office,
the Muskogee house, the Journal office,
Morris shoe shop and Engart's insur-
ance office. The residences Of Mr..
Miller, the railroad agent, and j. +.
Colbert, the shoemaker, on the east
of this block were also burned. The
fire then crossed the street TO the south
and burned out the old butcher shop,
Frank Reeds dwelling and the billiard
hall. An estimate of the loss and
insurance could not be obtained. II
is reported that the proportion OF
goods saved was very small in compar-
ison with what was destroyed. The
Journal folks we understand, saved
some of their material and we presume
will be able TO issue with some delay
and doubtless much Inconvenience. Az
is generally the case at such times tn,
thieves were on hand and Henry Six
killer arrested two men after the 1r,
wearing new suits of clothes Of mos
deplorable 1T. Mr.. Sewers store wal
only saved by the greatest exertion
blankets, salt and water being freell
used, and then the boards were burned
almost through. Clarence Turner wal
absent but returned Monday morning
Some of these mornings, If we are 81
fortunate as the Journal, We expect 4
get out an extra telling OF some sucl
an affair which happened at vinita
We beg to be excused.